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. (TROH-foh-BLAST) A thin layer of cells that helps a developing embryo attach to the wall of the uterus, protects the embryo, and forms a part of the placenta.
What is trophoblastic cancer?
Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is the name
for abnormal cells or tumours that start in the womb from cells that would normally develop into the placenta
. They are extremely rare but can happen during or after pregnancy. Most are non cancerous (benign) but some are cancerous. They are different to womb cancer.
What causes trophoblastic disease?
The most common types of gestational trophoblastic disease occur
when a sperm cell fertilizes an empty egg cell or when two sperm cells fertilize a normal egg cell
. Your risk is higher based on your: Age: Gestational trophoblastic disease occurs in women of childbearing age.
What is trophoblastic disease in pregnancy?
Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is
a group of rare diseases in which abnormal trophoblast cells grow inside the uterus after conception
. In gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), a tumor develops inside the uterus from tissue that forms after conception (the joining of sperm and egg).
What is the role of trophoblast during pregnancy?
Trophoblasts are specialized cells of the placenta that play an important role
in embryo implantation and interaction with the decidualized maternal uterus
. The core of placental villi contain mesenchymal cells and placental blood vessels that are directly connected to the fetus’ circulation via the umbilical cord.
What are the symptoms of gestational trophoblastic disease?
Abnormal vaginal bleeding during or after pregnancy
. A uterus that is larger than expected at a given point in the pregnancy. Severe nausea or vomiting during pregnancy. High blood pressure at an early point in the pregnancy, which may include headaches and/or swelling of the feet and hands.
How rare is GTD?
Gestational trophoblastic disease is the name given to a group of tumors that form during abnormal pregnancies. GTD is rare, affecting
about one in every 1,000 pregnant women
in the U.S. While some GTD tumors are malignant (cancerous) or have the potential to turn cancerous, the majority are benign (noncancerous).
Who is at risk for molar pregnancy?
A molar pregnancy is more likely in
women older than age 35 or younger than age 20
. Previous molar pregnancy. If you’ve had one molar pregnancy, you’re more likely to have another.
What is the main cause of molar pregnancy?
What causes a molar pregnancy? Molar pregnancies result
when specific genetic errors occur during the fertilization of an egg by a sperm
. In a healthy pregnancy, a placenta forms to nourish the growing embryo. With a molar pregnancy, instead of a placenta, a tumor forms inside the uterus.
How high is hCG molar pregnancy?
The measurement of high hCG levels
in excess of 100,000 mIU/mL
suggests the diagnosis of a complete molar pregnancy, particularly when associated with vaginal bleeding, uterine enlargement and abnormal ultrasound findings.
Is gestational trophoblastic disease fatal?
In total, 1044 patients were admitted during the study period, 164 cases (15.7%) of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) were diagnosed and 21 deaths occurred leading to a
specific lethality of 12.8%
(21/164).
Is gestational trophoblastic disease genetic?
This condition is diagnosed clinically, after a woman has experienced two or more ab-normal pregnancies. It has been associated with
genetic mutations
in either or two genes: NLRP7 and KHDC3L. These genes are both involved in the regulation of gene activation and inactivation.
What is trophoblastic reaction?
A well defined trophoblastic reaction, continuous around the gestational sac, is a very
good prognostic sign for continued viability
; a sac greater than 2 cm in diameter without embryonic echoes is a poor prognostic sign.
How is a placenta formed?
In general,
once the fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall
, the placenta begins forming. But the ball starts rolling several days before implantation. When you ovulate, an egg leaves the ovary to travel through the fallopian tube in hopes of being fertilized.
What role do trophoblasts play?
Trophoblasts play an important role in
embryo implantation and interaction with the endometrium of the maternal uterus following decidualization
. The trophoblast is composed of two layers: an inner cytotrophoblast and an outer syncytiotrophoblast.
What is the 16 cell stage?
A morula
(Latin, morus: mulberry) is an early-stage embryo consisting of 16 cells (called blastomeres) in a solid ball contained within the zona pellucida.
